One casualty of the President’s shutdown of non-essential government offices has been public clarity about precisely which government functions continue to operate. Aviation has not been immune from the confusion once some designated pilot examiners began telling applicants they were unable to conduct pilot practical exams. Making matters worse of course, all Flight Standards District Offices remain closed during the shutdown.
Some Airman Practical Testing May Continue During Shutdown
Key Takeaways:
- The government shutdown led to confusion regarding whether Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) could conduct pilot practical exams, especially with Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) closed.
- The FAA clarified, via the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA), that DPEs are generally permitted to continue conducting practical tests if they do not normally require prior approval from their managing office.
- However, DPEs who need explicit approval for specific situations (e.g., new designation, probationary status, recurrency oversight, or specialty tests) cannot conduct exams during the shutdown due to FSDO closures.
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